Off-Grid Cabin That Doubles as Ski Slope

This fun cabin was designed by the architecture firm Vardehaugen of Norway. It can function completely off-the-grid and features a sloping roof that the architects claim can serve as a ski/sledding trail and even a ski jumping slope, though I’m not sure how safe the latter is.

Cabin Vindheim, as it is called, was built in the forest near Lillehammer, Norway. Only the roof protrudes from the snow, so in winter the house looks as though it is buried in the snow. It’s also easy to climb onto the roof, and the occupants can enjoy their own little private slope.

The cabin measures 592 sq ft (55 sq m), which is pretty generous for a cabin. The exterior cladding is made of black-stained ore-pine, which is naturally very resistant to rot. The interior cladding, on the other hand is waxed poplar veneer. This cabin is comprised of a good sized living area, a bedroom, a ski preparation room, a mezzanine, and a small annex which can be used as a utility room.

There are plenty of windows installed throughout this cabin, which offers great views, especially at night, when the northern lights can be observed. The cabin is fitted with a flip up roof, which can be opened to create a skylight in the bedroom. Due to the generous glazing and keeping the interior walls light colored, the cabin appears very spacious.

The cabin can be run off-the-grid, thanks to a solar panel array, though I do have to wonder if a forest in Norway gets enough sunlight to provide adequate power. Heating is provided via a wood-fired oven.

The cabin was completed in January 2016 and it will be very interesting to see the summer images of this cabin. It looks great jutting out of the snow like this, but I’m curious as to how it looks once all the snow melts.